Fragments of a Soul

Story

Adam was riding a cab home. He looked out the window out of boredom. The sky was red. There was a motorcycle race going on. A few people on the sidewalk were holding up banners. Girl scouts were selling cookies on the streets. The cab drove into a small neighborhood and turned left. It approached a blue house.

"This is where you live?" the cab driver asked.

"Yup. Thanks."

"No problem, kiddo."

Adam stepped out of the cab, and the cab drove away. He looked at his watch. It was 8:00, more than an hour past his dinnertime. He sighed and walked inside the house.

"Adam Hemmensway?" a woman yelled from upstairs. "Where in God's name have you been?"

"I'm sorry Mom, I just-- I had to stay after school for a project."

Adam's mother came downstairs.

"Are you telling me, young man, that you had to stay at school for six hours just for a project? I know about the 'project' excuse. Where have you really been?"

"I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

"Well, you said that too many times already, yet you would still, ahem, 'stay after school' for hours."

Adam's mother coughed before sniffing a few times.

"Have you been drinking?" she inquired, annoyed.

"Uh, no!" Adam quickly replied.

"You certainly have been," said his mother. "Why?"

"Because..." Adam responded. He tried to come up with an answer. "Uh, it's because... you know..."

"Adam, do you know what drinking does to you? I believe we discussed this umpteen times already. And that's not to mention that you're only sixteen."

"Yes, yes. Heart, brain, and liver problems. I know, Mom. I know. Damn it. My head is spinning. I gotta get some sleep. Can we discuss this more tomorrow? I feel like I'm gonna faint anytime. Goddamn it..."

He ran upstairs. Mrs. Hemmensway groaned and sat down on a brown couch in the living room. She coughed a couple of times

"Kids," she said to herself. "When will they ever learn?"

Adam slowly walked into his room, trying his best not to lose his balance. His phone vibrated, so he picked it up to check notifications.

"got any plans tomorrow? ily btw," said one of the text messages. It came from his girlfriend Laura. He prepared to respond to the message, but he passed out before he could.

A six-year-old Adam was playing with his Star Wars minifigures in his room. His father walked in.

"Hey son," said Mr. Hemmensway. "Mind if I sit on your bed?"

"No, you can sit there Daddy," Adam replied.

"Good," said Mr. Hemmensway. "Adam, you know Daddy loves you very much, right? And by very much, I mean very much."

"Yes Daddy. And I love you too."

"Good. Uh, Adam? I would like you to do something for me. Can you take off all of your clothes and stand in front of me for a few minutes?"

"Why?"

"Just cause."

"Okay."

Adam obliged to his father's request.

"Ooh, look at that body," said Mr. Hemmensway. "You're making Daddy real hard."

Mr. Hemmensway put his right hand in his pocket, and Adam could have sworn that he saw his father rubbing something in between his legs. After a few minutes passed, Adam's father told him to put his clothes back on.